Pope Leo Out of Bed and Eating Normally After Lung Cancer Surgery, Vatican Says

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV is out of bed, walking and eating normally as he recovers from lung cancer surgery, the Vatican said on Wednesday in an encouraging Pope Leo health update, the first since the 71-year-old pontiff went under the knife.

Doctors described the Pope’s progress as normal. Blood tests and a chest X-ray returned normal post-operative results, and Leo has begun respiratory physiotherapy at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been recovering since Tuesday’s operation.

“The Pope’s recovery from lung surgery is progressing as expected,” the Vatican said, adding that a further update would follow later in the day.

A Pope asking for dinner

The bulletin painted a picture of a patient very much himself. On Tuesday night, hours after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung, Leo asked for dinner, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, told local media.

Vatican sources said the cancerous tissue had been “completely removed” from the Pope’s lungs. Tests are still being carried out to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the lung. Asked about further treatment, the sources said doctors had not discussed chemotherapy.

The operation on Tuesday lasted about 90 minutes, though Leo spent roughly three hours in the operating theatre in total. Surgeons used a video-assisted technique to remove the lower lobe of the right lung after an examination confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer.

Pope Leo health update follows Sunday announcement

Leo himself broke the news to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. During his regular Sunday Angelus blessing in St Peter’s Square on October 11, the American-born pontiff revealed that doctors had found a nodule on his lung during routine checks.

He described the growth as localised and caught at a very early stage, and said he had decided to undergo surgery on medical advice. The announcement, made just weeks before a planned November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, stunned the faithful.

As Feature Pakistan reported, the Vatican confirmed the cancer diagnosis after the operation, with the Holy See press office stating the procedure was successful and without complications.

The Prefecture of the Papal Household has cancelled all papal audiences through October 20 to give Leo time to recuperate. He is expected to spend about a week in hospital. The Latin America trip, scheduled to begin November 6, remains on the calendar for now.

A papacy’s first health scare

The surgery is the first significant health event of Leo’s 17-month papacy. Elected in May 2025 as the first United States-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the 71-year-old is known for an active lifestyle that includes regular tennis.

His predecessor, Francis, spent weeks at the same Gemelli facility in 2025 for a pulmonary infection and abdominal surgery, so the hospital’s tenth floor is familiar territory for the papacy.

The Times reported that King Charles, who is himself being treated for an undisclosed cancer, will write privately to the Pope to pass on his best wishes. Charles and Queen Camilla met Leo at the Vatican shortly after his election last year.

For now, the Vatican’s message is one of cautious relief: the Pope is awake, walking, eating, and asking for dinner. The biopsy results will determine what comes next.

Frequently asked questions

How is Pope Leo recovering after surgery?

The Vatican says his recovery is progressing normally. He is out of bed, walking and eating, with normal blood tests and chest X-ray results, and has started respiratory physiotherapy.

What operation did Pope Leo have?

Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13 at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, confirming a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer.

Will the Pope need chemotherapy?

Vatican sources say doctors have not discussed chemotherapy. Tests are under way to determine whether the cancer spread beyond the lung.

When will Pope Leo resume public duties?

All papal audiences are cancelled through October 20. His planned November 6 trip to Latin America remains scheduled for now.

*Sources: Vatican/Holy See Press Office statements via Dawn, October 14, 2026.*